To most people, Native people are majestic, spiritual and, sadly, a thing of the past. Most people who don’t live in America believe that Native people are all of the above, and with the representation we receive in the media - how could one not think that? And, adding to that, a lot of the media coverage we ‘receive’, half the time Native characters are not being played by actual Native people! Being a Métis … READ MORE

My mother is Brazilian. My father is ethnically French, but from Mauritius Island. The two met in New York City, a place originally foreign to them both, where they worked for 14 years.
Last summer, my parents and I were staying with some distant family in France. A heavy humidity stifled the town like a thick blanket, trapping the winds and radiating heat. We had only spent two days in Saint-Nazaire, but I was already beginning … READ MORE

Last month I saw Roxane Gay in an on-stage interview in Toronto, where she was discussing her newest book Hunger, a powerful memoir about trauma and living in an “unruly body.” Gay was fascinating, moving, smart, and funny (as her work always is). As a creative writing teacher, I was especially excited when Gay talked about how she approaches writing.
Early on in the interview, Gay discussed one of the most important decisions a writer must … READ MORE

UpdatE: we’ve extended the deadline to Monday, September 25 at midnight! Get those submissions in!
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES: TALKING BACK AWARDS
Shameless is now accepting submissions for our third annual creative writing contest, the Talking Back Awards! The deadline for all submissions is Monday September 25, 2017 at midnight.
What is Shameless?
Shameless is an independent, volunteer-run, grassroots magazine for teen girls and trans youth. We are a fresh alternative to typical teen magazines, packed with articles about arts, culture … READ MORE

From The Slits in the ‘70s to Bratmobile in the ‘90s, female-identifying individuals have been using punk music as a vessel for self-expression and social change for decades. Through punk, countless women have found their voices and made them heard. Among these fierce females are Janey, Anya, and Lucy of Dream Nails. Dream Nails is a London, UK based independent band recognized for their energy, spirit, and unapologetic politics. They released their first EP in 2016, and are in the process of crowdfunding for their next project – a compilation of recordings called, “Dare to Care,” which tackles topics of self care and perseverance. READ MORE

As we continue to slip down the slope of sociopolitical turbulence, it is an act of self-care to reserve space for art that reminds us of gold beneath the rubble. It is important to hold space for art that invites us to rise. In September 2016, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles graced us with her third studio album, A Seat at the Table, and as a result, affirmed my presence during a time where I felt invisible … READ MORE

A new ep. of Shameless Talks is here! Hosted by one of our editors, Julia De Laurentiis Johnson, this podcast is an accessory to our print issues and will bring you even more of the smart & fierce discussions you’ve come to expect from the pages of Shameless.
In this episode, we’re talking Politics! And it’s a very special one because it’s our first-ever live episode, a recording of our Politics issue launch where storytellers … READ MORE

If you’ve ever mused about starting your own podcast, ‘zine, photography project, or another idea, do it now! It’s an incredibly fascinating time to get involved in media production. Right now there is an abundance of people involved in making media from the frontlines of movements and the communities hardest hit by our society’s deep injustices. READ MORE

‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE

Over the past 25 years, women’s rates of incarceration have skyrocketed. In Canada, the statistics are grim, as recent reports have confirmed that Indigenous women are among the fastest growing prison populations in the country, as poverty-related crimes and nonviolent drug sentences have translated into life-sentences for many. READ MORE

Being depressed can feel like being stuck in a deep hole where no one can hear your screams. For me, it was not showering for 3 weeks, forgetting to brush my teeth, staying in bed for days, lying in filth, not cleaning my room. Clothes all over the floor, eating too much, eating too little, sleeping too much, not sleeping at all. Being depressed was constantly dealing with the thought that I would be better off dead. It was several hospitalizations. It was feeling worthless. It was missing school for weeks. It was feeling as if I did not have any friends or that nobody loved me. It was feeling as if I did not matter to anyone. Being depressed was living in my own hell on earth. READ MORE

‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE

Hello dear Shameless readers!
I was so inspired by Letters Lived: Radical Reflections, Revolutionary Paths edited by our very own Shameless editor, Sheila Sampath, that I came back after taking a blogging break and wrote my own letter.
Letters Lived is an inspiring short read from writers and activists writing to their younger selves, as adults. Ever want to reassure, guide or share your 20/20 hindsight with yourself after the fact? Letters Lived offers that very promise. … READ MORE

‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE

A new ep. of Shameless Talks is here! Hosted by our arts editor, Julia De Laurentiis Johnson, this podcast is an accessory to our print issues and will bring you even more of the kind of smart & fierce discussion you’ve come to expect from the pages of Shameless.
In this episode, we’re talking about Independence! You’ll hear from Vivek Shraya, a multi-disciplinary artist, writer and musician, talk about trying out different methods to fine-tune … READ MORE